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The local heat transfer coefficient measurement with temperature oscillation induced by periodic thermal perturbation - usually via a Gaussian laser beam, was investigated for the impact of the spikiness (i.e., the standard deviation) elaborated in comparison with the analytical model for dimensional analysis. The statistically more robust technique that relies on the linearity of the spatial phase distribution of the test point array was favored when the target Biot number approaches unity in terms of its order of magnitude. The preferred upper limit for thermographic scanning was discussed as the simplification of later data processing is concerned. Nonetheless, the time elapsed for an acceptable periodic steady state, which in principle leans to the higher end of the target Biot number spectrum in a log scale, indicates the benefit from the time series of pointwise temperature measurement - as in the conventional single-blow testing, where the effect of spikiness, as well as that of the location of individual test point, holds. Note that the vicinity as the target Biot number approaches unity was again observed with higher preference. A supplementary perspective was provided to the concerns, including noise tolerance, sampling rate, test duration, the spikiness of the imposed heat flux, and the accuracy-related parameters, in the measurement of local Biot number with thermal perturbation. The optimization was implemented with a Gaussian process surrogate model for data processing, within the specified parametric range of interest. The two commonly employed temporal modes of the imposed heat flux were compared with counterintuitive features discussed.

Recent developments in nonequilibrium and nonlinear terahertz (THz) spectroscopies have significantly advanced our understanding of collective excitations in superconductors. However, there is still debate surrounding the identification of Higgs or Leggett modes, as well as BCS charge fluctuations, in the well-known two-band superconductor MgB$_2$. Here, we utilized both multi-cycle and single-cycle THz pump-broadband THz probe techniques to investigate the THz nonlinear response of MgB$_2$. Through multicycle THz pump-THz probe experiments on MgB$_2$, we observed distinct nonlinear signals at both the fundamental frequency ($\omega$) and the second harmonic frequency (2$\omega$) of the pump pulses, which exhibited resonant enhancement at temperatures where their frequencies respectively match 2$\Delta_{\pi}(T)$. They are mainly attributed to the $\pi$-band Higgs mode. By adjusting the THz pump pulse to a single-cycle waveform that satisfies non-adiabatic excitation criteria, we observed an over-damped oscillation corresponding to the Leggett mode. Our findings contribute to solving the ongoing debates and demonstrate the selective excitation of collective modes in multiband superconductors, offering new insights into the interaction between Higgs and Leggett modes.

Here we employed optical spectroscopy and ultrafast reflectivity measurements to investigate the density wave instability of trilayer nickelate La4Ni3O10 at ambient pressure. Our optical spectroscopy measurements indicate that La4Ni3O10 is metallic with a large plasma frequency at room temperature. As the temperature decreases, we observe the formation of an energy gap in reflectivity below TDW, signaling the charge/spin density wave transition. The Drude component was largely removed due to the gap opening in the Fermi surface. Our Drude-Lorentz analysis reveals that the energy gap in La4Ni3O10 is approximately 61 meV, which is three times larger than that obtained from ARPES measurements. The density wave gap feature is more prominent than that observed in bilayer nickelate La3Ni2O7, suggesting more carriers are gapped at the Fermi surface across the density wave transition. By comparing the measured plasma frequency with the first-principles calculation, we categorize La4Ni3O10 as a moderately electronic correlation material, similar to the parent compound of iron-based superconductors, however, being weaker than the bilayer nickelate La3Ni2O7. Our ultrafast pump-probe experiments also show that the relaxation time diverges near the transition temperature. By analyzing the amplitude and relaxation time with the Rothwarf-Taylor model, we estimate the energy gap to be 58 meV, which agrees with the result of optical spectroscopy. The more prominent gap feature and weaker electronic correlation might be the cause of a lower superconductivity transition temperature in La4Ni3O10 under high pressure. These findings significantly contribute to understanding the origin of density wave and superconductivity in trilayer nickelate La4Ni3O10.

Materials potentially hosting Kitaev spin-liquid states are considered crucial for realizing topological quantum computing. However, the intricate nature of spin interactions within these materials complicates the precise measurement of low-energy spin excitations indicative of fractionalized excitations. Using Na$_{2}$Co$_2$TeO$_{6}$ as an example, we study these low-energy spin excitations using the time-resolved resonant elastic x-ray scattering (tr-REXS). Our observations unveil remarkably slow spin dynamics at the magnetic peak, whose recovery timescale is several nanoseconds. This timescale aligns with the extrapolated spin gap of $\sim$ 1 $\mu$eV, obtained by density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) simulations in the thermodynamic limit. The consistency demonstrates the efficacy of tr-REXS in discerning low-energy spin gaps inaccessible to conventional spectroscopic techniques., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures

Optical nonlinearities, one of the most fascinating properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials, are essential for exploring novel physics in 2D systems and developing next-generation nonlinear optical applications. While tremendous efforts have been made to discover and optimize second-order nonlinear optical responses in various 2D materials, higher odd-order nonlinear processes, which are in general much less efficient than second order ones, have been paid less attention despite their scientific and applicational significance. Here we report giant odd-order nonlinear optical wave mixing in a correlated van der Waals insulator MnPSe3 at room temperature. Illuminated by two near-infrared femtosecond lasers simultaneously, it generates a series of degenerate and non-degenerate four- and six-wave mixing outputs, with conversion efficiencies up to the order of $10^{-4}$ and $10^{-6}$ for the four- and six-wave mixing processes, respectively, far exceeding the efficiencies of several prototypical nonlinear optical materials (GaSe, LiNbO3). This work highlights the intriguing prospect of transition metal phosphorous trichalcogenides for future research of the nonlinear light matter interactions in 2D systems and for potential nonlinear photonic applications., Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures

We study THz-driven condensate dynamics in epitaxial thin films of MgB$_{2}$, a prototype two-band superconductor (SC) with weak interband coupling. The temperature and excitation density dependent dynamics follow the behavior predicted by the phenomenological bottleneck model for the single-gap SC, implying adiabatic coupling between the two condensates on the ps timescale. The amplitude of the THz-driven suppression of condensate density reveals an unexpected decrease in pair-breaking efficiency with increasing temperature - unlike in the case of optical excitation. The reduced pair-breaking efficiency of narrow-band THz pulses, displaying minimum near $\approx0.7$ T$_{c}$, is attributed to THz-driven, long-lived, non-thermal quasiparticle distribution, resulting in Eliashberg-type enhancement of superconductivity, competing with pair-breaking.

Low dimensionality in CDW systems leads to anisotropic optical properties, in both equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions. Here we perform polarized two-color pump probe measurements on a quasi-1D material ZrTe$_3$, in order to study the anisotropic transient optical response in the CDW state. Profound in-plane anisotropy is observed with respect to polarization of probe photons. Below $T_\mathrm{CDW}$ both the quasi-particle relaxation signal and amplitude mode (AM) oscillation signal are much larger with $\mathbf{E}_\mathrm{pr}$ nearly parallel to $a$ axis ($\mathbf{E}_\mathrm{pr} \parallel a$) than for $\mathbf{E}_\mathrm{pr}$ parallel to $b$ axis ($\mathbf{E}_\mathrm{pr} \parallel b$). This reveals that $\mathbf{E}_\mathrm{pr} \parallel a$ signal is much more sensitive to the variation of the CDW gap. Interestingly, the lifetime of the AM oscillations observed with $\mathbf{E}_\mathrm{pr} \parallel b$ is longer than $\mathbf{E}_\mathrm{pr} \parallel a$. Moreover, at high pump fluence where the electronic order melts and the AM oscillations vanish for $\mathbf{E}_\mathrm{pr} \parallel a$ , the AM oscillatory response still persists for $\mathbf{E}_\mathrm{pr} \parallel b$. We discuss possible origins that lead to such unusual discrepancy between the two polarizations., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

2H-NbSe2 is an archetypal system in which superconductivity and charge-density-wave (CDW) coexist and compete macroscopically with each other. In particular, this interplay also manifests in their dynamical fluctuations. As a result, the superconducting amplitude fluctuations (i.e. Higgs mode) is pushed below the quasiparticle continuum, allowing it to become a coherent excitation observable by Raman scattering. In the present study, we coherently drive the collective oscillations of the two orders and visualize their interplay in the driven states in the time domain. We find that both collective modes contribute to terahertz third harmonic generation (THG) and the THG signals interfere below Tc, leading to an anti-resonance of the integrated THG signal. The dynamical Ginzburg-Landau model suggests that around the anti-resonance a periodic energy transfer between the driven Higgs oscillations and the driven CDW oscillations is possible. In addition to 2H-NbSe2, we also studied an underdoped La2-xSrxCuO4 (x ~ 0.12) driven beyond the perturbative regime of THG. A similar interference between two sources of THG is observed below Tc. While there might be additional sources of THG in these experiments, our results illustrate the roles of coupled modes in the terahertz THG process and the tantalizing possibility of coherent control via such couplings.

In condensed matter physics, materials with kagome lattice display a range of exotic quantum states, including charge density wave (CDW), superconductivity and magnetism. Recently, the intermetallic kagome metal ScV6Sn6 was discovered to undergo a first-order structural phase transition with the formation of a root3xroot3x3 CDW at around 92 K. The bulk electronic band properties are crucial to understanding the origin of the structural phase transition. Here, we conducted an optical spectroscopy study in combination with band structure calculations across the structural transition. Our findings showed abrupt changes in the optical reflectivity/conductivity spectra as a result of the structural transition, without any observable gap formation behavior. The optical measurements and band calculations actually reveal a sudden change of the band structure after transition. It is important to note that this phase transition is of the first-order type, which distinguishes it from conventional density-wave type condensations. Our results provide an insight into the origin of the structural phase transition in this new and unique kagome lattice., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures

The topological Weyl semimetals with peculiar band structure exhibit novel nonlinear optical enhancement phenomena even for light at optical wavelengths. While many intriguing nonlinear optical effects were constantly uncovered in type-I semimetals, few experimental works focused on basic nonlinear optical properties in type-II Weyl semimetals. Here we perform a fundamental static and time-resolved second harmonic generation (SHG) on the three dimensional Type-II Weyl semimetal candidate $\beta$-WP$_2$. Although $\beta$-WP$_2$ exhibits extremely high conductivity and an extraordinarily large mean free path, the second harmonic generation is unscreened by conduction electrons, we observed rather strong SHG response compared to non-topological polar metals and archetypal ferroelectric insulators. Additionally, our time-resolved SHG experiment traces ultrafast symmetry switching and reveals that polar metal $\beta$-WP$_2$ tends to form inversion symmetric metastable state after photo-excitation. Intense femtosecond laser pulse could optically drive symmetry switching and tune nonlinear optical response on ultrafast timescales although the interlayer coupling of $\beta$-WP$_2$ is very strong. Our work is illuminating for the polar metal nonlinear optics and potential ultrafast topological optoelectronic applications., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures

Context. Stellar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the primary driver of the exoplanetary space weather and they could affect the habitability of exoplanets. However, detections of possible stellar CME signatures are extremely rare. Aims. This work aims to detect stellar CMEs from time-domain spectra observed through the LAMOST Medium-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey (LAMOST-MRS). Our sample includes 1,379,408 LAMOST-MRS spectra of 226,194 late-type main-sequence stars ($\rm T_{eff} < 6000$ K, $\rm log [g/(cm\ s^{-2})] > 4.0$). Methods. We first identified stellar CME candidates by examining the asymmetries of H$\alpha$ line profiles, and then performed double Gaussian fitting for H$\alpha$ contrast profiles (differences between the CME spectra and reference spectra) of the CME candidates to analyze the temporal variation of the asymmetric components. Results. Three stellar CME candidates were detected on three M dwarfs. The H$\alpha$ and Mg I triplet lines (at 5168.94 {\AA}, 5174.13 {\AA}, 5185.10 {\AA}) of candidate 1 all exhibit a blue-wing enhancement, and the corresponding Doppler shift of this enhancement shows a gradually increasing trend. The H$\alpha$ line also shows an obvious blue-wing enhancement in candidate 2. In candidate 3, the H$\alpha$ line shows an obvious red-wing enhancement, and the corresponding projected maximum velocity exceeds the surface escape velocity of the host star. The lower limit of the CME mass was estimated to be $\sim$$8 \times 10^{17}$ g to $4 \times 10^{18}$ g for these three candidates., Comment: Accepted by A&A